World War II Official album. 3003-3448

Photographs of New Zealand military personnel serving in Italy during World War 2, 1943-1945, taken by various photographers and compiled for official purposes. Many individuals identified are listed, but while many others are identified in group portraits they are not named.

Views of the No 1 New Zealand General Hospital at Molfetta; Prime Minister Peter Fraser visiting NZ troops in Italy (p 2-12, 18-19), including the occasion of his audience with the Pope at the Vatican and senior officers and chaplains after being received by the Pope at Vatican City; the chief prior of Abbey Monte Cassino returning to the ruins of the monastery (p 2).

Views of a Divisional Flashspotting troop; a "jeep train" supplying men to forward areas, known as the "Ghost train" as it had to move in darkness; pursuit of Germans after the capture of Atima and Belmonte.

The No 2 NZ Field Bakery in action; the No 2 NZ General Hospital at Caserta (p 10-12); the NZ Forestry Unit in Southern Italy

Transport ship Gripsholm arriving in Algiers with repatriates from the UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and other allies; swimming and boating sports at Arce; NZers on leave in Rome, Vatican City, St Peter's, Castel St Angelo, and the NZ Forces Club; a gymkhana, and wood chopping competition at Arce.

NZ troops after the assault on Mount Lignano; the advance towards Florence; King George VI visiting the NZ Division during the advance to Florence; "Tuis" in Rome at John Keats House; a Regimental Aid post.

Sound recording machines, helping locate enemy guns; clearing landmines; various armoured vehicles including German Tiger tanks, and other German Panzer tanks, Staghound armoured cars; M10 tank busters

Members of the RNZNVR in the Mediterranean (p 50-51, 55); Italian partisans in Florence, and one view of Nikos Souris (worked with the escape system in Crete); New Zealanders arriving in Florence; New Zealand Forces Club in Florence.

Weddings at the chapel at No 3 General Hosptial (Bari), and at All Saints Church in Rome; inspections by general Freyberg accompanied by senior Greek officers inspecting the 3rd Greek Brigade in Italy; Winston Churchill touring the 8th Army front.

The RNZAF in Britain: fighter pilots of Hawker Tempest planes; pilots and navigators of a Mosquito squadron engaged in bombing targets behind German lines by night (British official photographs, p 60-63)

Kiwi Concert Party entertaining children and adult refugees at a camp in Rome; a gala day held for Italian children by members of the No 21 NZ Battalion; the advance to Gambettola; troops on leave in Riccione; a donkey derby; advance through Faenza; scenes of Christmas celebrations in the No 3 NZ General Hospital and on the line in Italy.

NZEF Middle East (p 104) the Honorable D G Sullivan visiting Maadi, NZEF Italy, Sullivan visiting the troops in Italy (p 107-110).

A dance held at Senigallia as a farewell to members of Transport HQ returning to New Zealand under the replacement scheme; sporting activities including rugby, soccer and hockey; New Zealand High Commissioner to London visiting NZ troops and hospitals in italy; Sir Patrick Duff (British High Commissioner designate to NZ visiting Italy en route to NZ; Italian women partisans in Massa Lombarda; New Zealanders in Venice after having been liberated; a pontoon bridge over the River Po; meeting between General Freyberg and members of the Yugoslav Army; and NZ ex-prisoners of war at a NZ repatriation unit in Italy all of whom are named.

Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s).

Physical Description: Album with faded blue cover, darker blue corners and spine; 34.5 x 22.0 cm